Millbury slots location unveiled

Monday

Jul 15, 2013 at 11:18 PMJul 15, 2013 at 11:23 PM

By Susan Spencer, TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

MILLBURY — Initial plans for a $200 million slots casino on McCracken Road, off Route 146 and the Mass Pike, were presented at the Planning Board meeting Monday night, offering the public its first look at the project's location and proposed design.

Mass Gaming & Entertainment, a subsidiary of Chicago-based Rush Street Gaming, hopes to develop a 110,000- to 115,000-square-feet complex with the state-maximum 1,250 slot machines, at least one full-service restaurant and other food venues, a live music area and day spa.

The slots parlor would be just north of The Shoppes at Blackstone Valley, a large open-air shopping center that opened in 2004.

The developer's traffic consultant, Robert Michaud from MDM Transportation Consultants, said the company is committed to improving the interchange at Route 146 and Main Street, which would be the access point for 90 percent of trips generated by the casino. Cars exiting the casino would not be allowed to turn left onto McCracken Road, a cut-through between Route 146 and Route 20, but would be directed back to the 146 interchange.

Planning Board Chairman Richard F. Gosselin wasn't convinced the traffic improvements would improve an area that can get gridlocked for hours during holiday shopping peaks at the mall.

"You haven't convinced me traffic is going to be flowing through there. We're still driving everybody into one massive intersection," Mr. Gosselin said.

He also questioned the casino's amenities: "There doesn't seem to be any conferencing facilities located with this facility," he said. "There's a void here I was kind of surprised (it) didn't show up in your game plan."

David G. Patent, president of Rush Street Gaming, said the company incorporates a multi-use room in its Des Plaines, Ill., Rivers Casino and could factor that into its Millbury design, although it wouldn't be a full-fledged conference center.

Residents packed Town Hall to hear the presentation, although they weren't given the opportunity for input at the meeting. Millbury resident Ginny Picking said, while waiting for the presentation to start, she supported the casino because, "I'd like to spend my money in Millbury instead of going to Rhode Island or Connecticut."

Sitting among a row of casino supporters, another resident, Bob Carrigan, said, "I think it's a good idea. It's going to help our tax base; it's also going to help create jobs and I think that the location is good, too." But, Mr. Carrigan added, "I'd like to hear from the chief of police about what he thinks about the crime."

The proposed site is in the Route 146 commercial overlay district. Developers must seek a special permit from the Planning Board and then undergo site plan and stormwater plan review before it can receive board approval.

A public hearing for a special permit would be Aug. 12 in the high school auditorium, if the developer files the formal proposal with the board. At the same time, Mass Gaming & Entertainment is negotiating a host community agreement with town officials, which it expects to have signed by July 26 if it is to meet the timeline required by the state Gaming Commission.

Once an agreement is signed, voters will have the chance to give thumbs up or down at a townwide referendum. If the casino plan and host agreement are approved locally, the developer must submit a phase 2 application to the Gaming Commission by Oct. 4. The commission will award one slots casino license for the whole state.

Other contenders include Cordish Co., with a proposal for Leominster; Plainridge Racecourse in Plainville; Raynham Park; and a new proposal from Penn National Gaming for a casino in Tewksbury.

The slots license will be awarded this winter. A proposal by Rush Street Gaming for a slots parlor in Worcester fell apart in June.

Contact Susan.Spencer@telegram.com or follow her on Twitter: SusanSpencerTG

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